MadzMeow
Member
Hi everyone
First time posting, but have been doing some reading and making use of the resources here. Im really looking for a bit of help / support... advice?
So onto my cat and her journey...
My 10 yr old cat Momo (female, desexed) was diagnosed late last year with diabetes after a bit of an expensive journey. Initially i had taken her to the vet (around March 2023) due to concerns about a change in behaviour and weight gain - she has quite a round and firm belly that she only really developed in the previous 12 months. Behaviourally she had also changed - she no longer was interested in getting on the bed, she didnt climb up onto anything in fact. She was shying away from pats, cuddles and attention.
After many blood tests, urine tests and even an ultrasound ($$$) i was told that she "probably had arthritis". I got her onto Hills Metabolic food, but she was hungry all the time. We had a few tries at Solensia (which didnt make any difference) we again did blood work and urine (i returned home after a holiday to urine all over the house), finally a dip test showed her as having elevated glucose (15 mmol/L). So immediately started insulin (2 units x twice daily).
I decided to change vets (primarily because i was really pissed off that i had essentially gone through 8 months of tests that somehow missed the glucose issue, and giving her medication that maybe she didnt/doesnt need...) and through this new vet we are on a better path... (sort of)
At this new vet, I have done a whole bunch of blood tests, urine tests, got her one of those glucose monitors that only worked for about 48 hours (more $$$). About a month ago she was looking very flat, very lethargic, not interested in food so i rushed her back to the vet only to find out she was really constipated?!! More vet bills. Then a fortnight ago I believe she had a bit of a hypo episode - she was panting, seemed wobbly on her feet...definitely not herself. So following the great advice here - got some sugar water into her, some high carb food (she was eating still thankfully!) and decided to drop her insulin amounts. The vet was not that happy that i did this, but i stood my ground. and no, i wasnt going to let them do more blood tests at that point.
So where am I now...
Momo is on primarily wet food (raw kangaroo, chicken hearts, some canned tiki and fancy feast pate) with some expensive freeze dried bikkies. I am feeding her small amounts approx every 4 hours. She is on 1 unit insulin, twice daily. She also is getting metacam for her arthritis and i am also giving her osmolax for constipation. Her levels when tested at the vet are still around 15mmol/L, but i havent tested her at home.
She still has her firm, round belly and she hasnt lost much weight, if any. She still sometimes urinates outside the box (like literally, her bum must be sticking out of the side of the litterbox!!).
I really want to start on the glucose testing at home and would love to get her to a place where she is in remission... but its hard. I would love to know if its possible... and how long it might take. I want her to feel better!
I am also curious about anyone else's cats who may have had the same kind of journey - she didnt have the big weight loss as a sign (in fact its the opposite!), she did become hungrier and thirstier. And curiously her meow has changed...i think it might change when her levels drop actually.
Am i on the right path? what else can I do? is remission possible? Is 15mmol/L really high?
and also are there some resources written for Australian pet owners because i get very confused with pounds and different glucose numbers!!
Sorry for the long post, but thank you for taking the time to read it!
First time posting, but have been doing some reading and making use of the resources here. Im really looking for a bit of help / support... advice?
So onto my cat and her journey...
My 10 yr old cat Momo (female, desexed) was diagnosed late last year with diabetes after a bit of an expensive journey. Initially i had taken her to the vet (around March 2023) due to concerns about a change in behaviour and weight gain - she has quite a round and firm belly that she only really developed in the previous 12 months. Behaviourally she had also changed - she no longer was interested in getting on the bed, she didnt climb up onto anything in fact. She was shying away from pats, cuddles and attention.
After many blood tests, urine tests and even an ultrasound ($$$) i was told that she "probably had arthritis". I got her onto Hills Metabolic food, but she was hungry all the time. We had a few tries at Solensia (which didnt make any difference) we again did blood work and urine (i returned home after a holiday to urine all over the house), finally a dip test showed her as having elevated glucose (15 mmol/L). So immediately started insulin (2 units x twice daily).
I decided to change vets (primarily because i was really pissed off that i had essentially gone through 8 months of tests that somehow missed the glucose issue, and giving her medication that maybe she didnt/doesnt need...) and through this new vet we are on a better path... (sort of)
At this new vet, I have done a whole bunch of blood tests, urine tests, got her one of those glucose monitors that only worked for about 48 hours (more $$$). About a month ago she was looking very flat, very lethargic, not interested in food so i rushed her back to the vet only to find out she was really constipated?!! More vet bills. Then a fortnight ago I believe she had a bit of a hypo episode - she was panting, seemed wobbly on her feet...definitely not herself. So following the great advice here - got some sugar water into her, some high carb food (she was eating still thankfully!) and decided to drop her insulin amounts. The vet was not that happy that i did this, but i stood my ground. and no, i wasnt going to let them do more blood tests at that point.
So where am I now...
Momo is on primarily wet food (raw kangaroo, chicken hearts, some canned tiki and fancy feast pate) with some expensive freeze dried bikkies. I am feeding her small amounts approx every 4 hours. She is on 1 unit insulin, twice daily. She also is getting metacam for her arthritis and i am also giving her osmolax for constipation. Her levels when tested at the vet are still around 15mmol/L, but i havent tested her at home.
She still has her firm, round belly and she hasnt lost much weight, if any. She still sometimes urinates outside the box (like literally, her bum must be sticking out of the side of the litterbox!!).
I really want to start on the glucose testing at home and would love to get her to a place where she is in remission... but its hard. I would love to know if its possible... and how long it might take. I want her to feel better!
I am also curious about anyone else's cats who may have had the same kind of journey - she didnt have the big weight loss as a sign (in fact its the opposite!), she did become hungrier and thirstier. And curiously her meow has changed...i think it might change when her levels drop actually.
Am i on the right path? what else can I do? is remission possible? Is 15mmol/L really high?
and also are there some resources written for Australian pet owners because i get very confused with pounds and different glucose numbers!!
Sorry for the long post, but thank you for taking the time to read it!
I have added some of her blood tests from the vet that I have on file already
Sometimes he'll pee right in front of the box. I have puppy pads on top of the litter mat now. The vet says it's behavioral. There are no issues between the cats, nothing has changed with the litter box or litter, no new routine 
I keep toying with the idea of hiring an animal communicator to "talk" to my cat and see why he keeps going outside the box.
will see what else I can do.
! Which is why i am wonder if it is more behavioural ? Anxiety perhaps? or maybe just laziness... but YUCK. I dont want a litter box in my bedroom.... Howerver, I did manage to block her access to the bedroom last night and she had used the litter trays overnight as normal...Why are cats so damn difficult to decipher!
after about 10 minutes of trying, we were both frustrated and stressed and i had to give up. I hope i can get better at it because it is really not going that great. My plan is to get my partner to help me get the mid-cycle one today. Maybe i could even try her paw pad instead... idk
